Centrifugal strip casting machine



July 26, 1949. F. H. WUETIG 2,477,030

CENTRIFUGAL STRIP CASTING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 26, 1949. F. H. WUETIG CENTRIFUGAL STRIP CASTING MACHINE Filed July 24. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ms C/ I770 Ed Ji.

. less expense than-has heretofore been possible.

The prior and'usually'adopted method of pro-' ducing the strips by centrifugal. action,'has been I to provide a tubular casing into which the'molten Patented July 26, 1949 camamucar.

t =ms-mwueuaemessanl. Application July 24, 1941, Serial u'a. -1 es,zss I 6Clalms.' (01. 22-65) gitudinal dimension of the mold, maybe obtained, and by a methodwhichis of considerably metal is, fed, in a suitable-manner. The casing is then rotated, and centrifugal action throwsthemetal outwardly, so as to Iorin a pipe within the casing. After the pipe is withdrawn or removed 1 from the'casing, it is cut intolengths transverselyofthe 'longitudinaldi-mension' of the-pipe, to provide a number 01'. sections These sections are'then compressed laterally, after which they are rolled into strips of the desiredithickness; This is a somewhat expensive as well as time M to improvements inmas'ram casmo mom cylinder and one with respect to the other,

wherebytheladle will be both withdrawn from and inserted into the cylinder.

' A further object; is to provide improved means for iormingthe continuous strip or bar within the cylinder.

A further object is to provide improved means for rotating and for bodily shifting the cylinder with respect to the ladle, into and out of operative position withrelation thereto. A further object is to provide an improved form of stripper for-removing the spiral strip from ,To :;the attainments of these ends and the ac-'- complishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists inthe features of novelty insubstantially the construction, combination and arrangement or the several parts,

"hereinafter more 7 fully described and claimed,

consuming operation, and the length of the finished strip is .limited by the amount of material in each section, the original length of the" section and the thickness of the finished strip. Furthermore there are a number of slipsin the operation which necessitate a considerable handling of the material before the final product is produced, thelength of the strips'bein'g also of a somewhat limited length.

It is one of the objects of the present inventionto improve and simplify the method of producing such metal strips, and to overcome the objections'and difllculties in the prior machines.

A further object is to [provide an improved centrifugal machine oithi's character in which there is provided-a continuous strip or bar, which in the firstinstance is of approximately the desired width and thickness, the strip being shaped in a rotatable cylinder by centrifugal force, the strip being preferably formed in the shape of a spiral, the convolutions'oi which are spaced from each other.

- ings:

emplifying this the, cylinder, "and-for causing the strip to ultimate'ly leave the cylinder in a substantially flat p itio11- v A further object is-to provide improved means for shifting-the cylinder and the stripper one with respect to the other.

and shown in the accoin'panying drawings exvinvention, and in which draw- I Figure 1 'is a view partly in side elevation, and partly'in section oil a machine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is an end view partly in vertical section of Figure l, with parts omitted.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the casting or strip being removed or str pped from the cylinder or mold.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail longitudinal sections through the mold or casting cylinder of A further object is-to provide improved means for removing the spirally formed stri from the cylinder. 4 I

A further object is to provide an improved machine of this character in which the strip is formed in a rotatable cylinder by centrifugal force, the material being supplied to the-cylinder by means -of a ladle that projects into, and is of substantially the same length as the cylinder, and improved means for relatively shifting the different forms of various strips that could be cast.

of a means for indexing or stopping rotating mold in the proper position forstripping.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and in the form of the invention "shown, the casting mold I, is cylindrical, of any desired diameter and length, and constructed of any suitablematerial. If desired, it may be cooled in any suitable manner by means or a water Jacket, water spray or any cooling means (not shown) well known in this art. I

Disposed within the mold is a continuous spiral groove 2, formed in any suitable manner by a continuous spiral ridge or rib I. This rib may be or any desired or suitable shape in cross sec- Figure '6 is a detail transverse, sectional view A 3 tion, but is preferably tapered or of an inverted v shape, the ribs being spaced from each other in directions lengthwise of the axis of the mold, according to the width or strip or bar it is desired to produce. They are also of a height suitable of producing strips or bars of the desired thickness.

The mold is supported to rotate upon a substantially horizontal axis in any suitable manner, such as by means of grooved rings l and 5, which ride upon rollers I and I, mounted upon suitable supports I and II, any number of which rollers may be provided and suitably positioned.

Mounted externally and fixed to the mold I, is a ring pulley I4 driven by means of suitable belts I5, from a driving pulley it, that is operatively connected with a motor I1.

Also mounted externally of the mold I, is a ring gear 18, which meshes with an intermediate gear I9, that is afllxed to a shaft 20, that is journaled in hearings in supports 2| and 22. Fixed to the shaft 20, is a gear 23, and a grooved collar 28, that is engaged by a shifting fork or lever 25, the latter being provided with a conventional shifting or operating device (not shown).

The gear 23, meshes with a gear 25, that is operatlvely connected to a motor 21.

When the fork 25, is shifted laterally, the intermediate gear I9, will move into and out of meshing engagement with the ring gear I8, and also a lead nut gear 28, which latter is threaded upon a lead screw 29, and the nut gear 28, is mounted between the supports 29, and 2 I, so that when the nut gear 28, is rotated upon the screw 29, the gear will be maintained against traveling movement with respect to the length of the mold, and the mold will be advanced or retracted bodily, according to the direction of rotation of the nut gear 28, as will be later explained.

Both ends of the mold I, are open, and retainer rings or annular members 32, and 33, are provided to prevent the molten metal from running out of the mold. The ring 33, is preferably removably secured in position by means of suitable fastening lugs 35.

The mold with its supporting structure is rotatably mounted upon a movable carriage 35, whereby the mold may be bodily moved in opposite directions.

In the casting position, a casting ladle 36, projects thereinto and is preferably centered with respect thereto, extending for substantially the entire length of the mold, the ladle being mounted on the end of a horizontal shaft 31, journaled in suitable bearings 38 and 39. Attached to the shaft 31, is a gear 50, which meshes with a pinion GI, of a motor M, or of any other suitable driving mechanism or device, to obtain a slow rotation of the casting ladle 36, and the rotation of the ladle may .be controlled in any suitable and well known manner (not shown).

The casting ladle'is filled in any suitable manner, such as by means of a pouring spout 43, slidably mounted upon a pedestal of the bearing 39, so that it may. be moved back and out of. the way after the casting ladle is filled, thus allowing the casting ladle to rotate freely. The molten metal is poured from some suitable standard pouring ladle M; suitably mounted and operated.

Arranged at any suitable distance beyond one end of the mold I, is a stationary support 29 to which the screw 29 is fastened by one end, in a manner to prevent rotation of the screw. Carried by the supportandina position to be pro- Jected into the mold I, from one end of the latter is a stripper 43, provided with a curved guide housing 41. at the end of which housing may be arrar ged pinch rolls 48. between which the strip or bar 4!, passes when removed from the mold, and from these rolls the strip may enter equalizing or reheating furnaces (not shown) or conveyed to any other point for further operation thereupon, if desired.

An apron 49 is provided inside of the curved housing 41, to facilitate the entrance of the casting between the pinch rolls 48.

The continuous spiral rib or ridge '3 is of a height greater than the thi of the metal casting, thereby causing the casting to be separated into a continuous spiral strip, as shown in Figure 3, and the cross section of the cast strip where it bears against the mold may be varied, as illustrated at 50, in Figure 5, and in the form of a groove 52, as shown in Figure 4.

Casting of the molten metal is done while the mold I, is rotating, and after the metal has solidifled the motor I1, is stopped, retaining ring 33 is removed and the end of the casting 45, is bent up, in any suitable manner, such as by means of a bar or hammer, suillciently to allow the edge of stripper 46, to enter between the mold and casting.

The intermediate gear I9, which during thecasting period has been moved outof mesh with the ring gear I8, and lead nut gear 28, is moved back into mesh with the ring gear I8, and lead nut gear 28, and motor 21, is started. Rotation is imparted from motor 21, through pinion gear 26, to rear gear 23 which is fixed to the shaft 20. Intermediate gear I9, is also fixed to shaft 20, and is therefore also rotated. Since the intermediate gear I9, is in mesh with ring gear I8, and lead nut gear 28. they are rotated in opposite directions simultaneously, causing mold I to rotate and lead nut gear 28, to travel along lead screw 29.

Any tendency of lead nut gear 28 to travel in-' dependently is resisted by the supports or bearings 20, 2|, throughwhich lead screw 29,'passes, but which restrain lateral movement of lead nut gear 28. Since independent movement of lead nut gear 28, is restricted, travel along lead screw causes the entire carriage 35, to move into stripper 46. By the proper gear ratios in the ring gear I8, and the gear nut 28, and the correct lead on the lead screw 29, the lateral travel of mold I, will be such as to keep the stripper edge as, in the spiral groove 2, or between the ribs 8, as the mold rotates. The rigidity of the casting will cause. it to follow the curved guide housing W, and enter between the pinch rolls 48.

With this improved method of casting bars or strips, there is provided a stripper plow like device which has what may be termed a skewed edge, the leading end of the stripper being larger than the trailing edge. This causes the strip to tilt toward the stripping end of the mold in order to assist its leaving the mold, and also to allow it to flatten out so that it can enter between the pinch rolls, at the end of the stripper. The edge of the stripper is shaped to fit the form of the casting, and the travel of the bar or strip on leaving the mold is guided by the curved guide housing plate in order that it will enter the pinch rolls properly. This guide also supported the blade of the stripper. A lead screw is run from the stripper bar to the mold carriage, and is anchored at the stripper end and threaded through the nut drive gear on the carriage. This geared nut is so mounted on the mold carriage, that when the gear is turned the nut tends to travel along the lead screw, so as to cause the carriage to travel in the direction ,of movement of the nut. The gear on the nut is connected through a sliding intermediate gear to a ring gear around the "outside of the mold, thereby causing the travel of the mold carriage to be relative to the rotation of the mold.

The operation of the nut gear is controlled by the shifting device 25.

If desired, and as a means for indexing the mold prior to stripping to insure proper entry of the stripper in the end of the groove in the mold, there may be provided an indexing device which may be of any desired or suitable construction.

A simple and efficient means may embody a lug or projection 54, on the outside of the mold, and a retractable indexing member 55 of any suitable construction, preferably pivotally mountof the lug 54 so that when it is desired to strip the bar from the mold, the lug 54 may be brought against the indexing member 55 and thus the mold will be in a proper position with relation to the point or end 46 of the strip.

After the material has been stripped from the mold, the indexing member 55 may be swung out of the way of the lug 54. If desired, and as a means for assisting in holding the indexing member in position there may be provided an arm or projection which engages and rests upon the carriage 35. This indexing member is preferably provided with a bifurcation 58 into which the end of the lug 54 may project.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a machine for casting strips of metal by centrifugal force having a rotatable mold mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and a continuous spiral groove on the inner face of the mold having a depth greater than the thickness of the strip to be cast, the combination with said machine of stripping means for removing the strip of metal from the mold including a stripper finger fixed with respect to the axis of the mold at a distance equal to the internal radius of the mold and adapted to be inserted in one end of the mold under the casting, means for rotating the mold and for moving the mold and stripper relative to each other in a rectilinear and coaxial path and in a relation so timed with the rotation of said mold that the end of the stripper finger Will follow the spiral groove and remove the casting in a continuous strip.

2. In a machine for casting strips of metal by centrifugal force having a rotatable mold mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and a continuous spiral groove on the inner face of the mold having a depth greater than the thickness of the strip to be cast, the combination with said machine of stripping means for removing the strip of metal from the mold including a stationary stripper finger fixed with respect to the axis of the mold at a distance equal to the internal radius of the mold and adapted to be inserted in one end of the mold under the casting, and means for simultaneously rotating the mold and moving the mold in a rectilinear path axially in a relation so timed that the end of the stripper finger will follow the spiral groove and remove the casting in a continuous strip.

3. In a machine for casting strips of metal by centrifugal force having a rotatable mold mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and a continuous spiral groove on the inner face of the mold having a depth greater than the thickness of the strip to be cast, the combination with said machine of stripping means for removing the strip of metal from the mold including a stripper finger adapted to be inserted in one end of the mold under the casting, a support for said finger, an elongated screw secured to said support and parallel with the axis of said mold, means for rotatingsaid mold, said last named means being operatively connected to said screw thereby to move the mold and stripper relative to each other during rotation of the mold in a rectilinear and coaxial path in a relation so timed with the rotation of the mold that the end of the stripper finger will follow the spiral groove and remove the casting in a continuous strip.

4. In a machine for casting strips of metal by centrifugal force having a rotatable mold mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and a continuous spiral groove on the inner face of the mold having a depth greater than the thickness of the strip to be cast, the combination with said machine of stripping means for removing the strip of metal from the mold including a stripper finger adapted to be inserted in one end of the and said screw being geared together, and the pitch of said screw being such as to cause the mold to advance on the stripper when the mold is rotated in properly timed relation to cause said finger to strip the casting from the mold.

5. In a machine for casting strips of metal by centrifugal force having a rotatable mold mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and a continuous spiral groove on the inner face of the mold having a depth greater than the thickness of the strip to be cast, the combination with said machine of stripping means for removing the strip of metal from the mold including a stripper finger adapted to be inserted in one end of the mold between themold and the casting, said stripper finger having a substantially helically curved guiding surface with a helix angle greater than the helix angle of the groove in the mold, a support for said stripper finger, means for simultaneously rotating said mold and for moving the mold axially in a relation so timed as to cause said finger to follow the path of said groove, and said finger having one end thereof terminating in a mitered edge stripping lip thereby to peel the strip internally from the mold.

6. In a machine for casting strips of metal by centrifugal force having a rotatable mold mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and a continuous spiral groove on the inner face of the mold having a depth greater than the thickness of the strip to be cast, the combination with said machine of stripping means for removing the finger adapted to be inserted in one end of the mold between the mold and the casting,-rneans I for rotating the mold and for moving the mold relative to the stripper in a coaxial direction simultaneously in timed relation, said last named means comprising a ring gear around the mold,

a an elongated screw disposed parallel with the eras ofsaid mold andsecured to said stripping means, said ring gear being geared to said screw and said screw pitch being such'that the stripper A edge willfollow the groove in the mold during rotation thereof, and indexing means including a lugon the periphery of the mold and an engag-.-

ing latch on the mold supporting structure, said latch adapted to engage saidlug and to be released therefrom prior tostripping thereby to position the mold for proper entry of the stripper finger -in the end oi said spiral groove. 7 i FRED H. WUETIG.

nmmcns or-rm) I The following reterenicesare of record in the me oi-this patent: ,8

' s'ra'rzs PATENTS Numberv Name I Date 1,307,823 Ladd ---'June 24, 1919 1,595,119 Paige -i Aug. 10, 1926 10 1,602,426 .Cammen Oct. 12, 1926 1,621,380 Ruder Mar. 15, 1927 1,665,700 'Hencken Apr. 10, 1928 1,787,567 Byers et al Jan.. 6, 1931 v 7 2,078,200 Dumas Mar. 9, 1937 j u 2,086,483 Touceda et al. July 6, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number' Country Date Germany Oct. 21. 1937 

